Category: Trade related violence

A TAXI driver lost his job after he punched a passer-by who told him to move his cab.

Waheed Sadiq left the victim needing stitches following the attack in Stoke.

Sadiq has since had his taxi licence revoked and has now received a suspended prison sentence.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Sadiq’s taxi was double parked in Glebe Street – blocking one of the two lanes – when a bus stopped alongside him to let passengers off.

This blocked the road, and one of the disembarking bus passengers complained to Sadiq, who then struck the victim in the face.

The single blow caused the man to fall to the ground, and he required stitches to a mouth wound.

Sadiq, of Erskine Street, Dresden, was arrested following the incident which happened on the afternoon of February 7, 2015.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council then revoked his taxi licence, despite his denial of the wounding charge.

Councillor Joy Garner, chairwoman of the licensing and general purposes committee said: “We treat any incidents of this nature extremely seriously. In this instance we moved swiftly to put Sadiq’s case before the earliest licensing panel meeting, last June.

“Sadiq’s taxi licence was immediately revoked.

“The safety of the public is our number one priority and we will use our powers to take action quickly in the interests of public protection.”

Sadiq, who has two previous convictions including an assault by beating, was found guilty last month after a trial.

The 35-year-old is now working at a local restaurant.

Sadiq was sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court this week where Judge David Fletcher handed him a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

Judge Fletcher said: “You knew you were parked there for longer than you should have been. It’s a busy, one way street.

“When the bus stopped it stopped the traffic, that annoyed people. This gentleman spoke to you and you responded by punching him.

“You behaved in a boorish and arrogant manner.”

Sadiq – whose wife is about to have a baby – was also ordered to do 220 hours unpaid work, pay £500 compensation to the victim and complete 30 sessions of a rehabilitation activity requirement.

The city has around 1,800 licensed taxi drivers. Any driver who is charged with a crime is required to inform the city council within seven days.

AN “INNOCENT” taxi driver was assaulted by some of his six male passengers and left at the side of the road.

Police are now appealing for information following the incident on Sunday, October 28.

One of the group was wearing a tutu skirt at the time.

“I would say it’s clearly a premeditated attack on an innocent person trying to make a living as a taxi driver,” said inspector Stuart Gibbons.

“A cowardly and unprovoked attack with six of them against one bloke.”

The 48-year-old driver from the Camborne area picked up the six men in their late teens to early 20s at Tesco Express in Falmouth town centre in the early hours of Sunday, October 28. He got their fare up-front as they asked to be taken to St Austell with a drop-off at St Stephen.

Police said the taxi driver stopped on the side of the A3058 as the men became agitated. They got out and one reportedly grabbed the victim by the throat without warning and pulled him from the car before head-butting him.

Police said he was kicked while on the floor, leaving him with bruising and swelling to his eye and a bruised body. After one of the group made the others leave him alone, they all ran off.

Although they had taken the keys out of the car, the beaten driver managed to find them and drive himself home.

“We are keen to hear from anyone who may have witnessed this or maybe one of the men who might have reflected on the actions of the group and can give us information,” said Mr Gibbons.

He added that the men are thought to be connected to a football or rugby club.

The male who head-butted the driver is described as about 6ft with dark hair, wearing a blue T-shirt.

Another, thought to be in fancy dress, was wearing a red and grey net tutu.

Call police on 101 quoting GA/12/3008 with information about this crime.

Police had no suspects as we went to press and no arrests had been made.

A PRIVATE hire driver was subjected to a brutal attack by a man and two women he refused to take as passengers.

Raja Khan, who works for DG Cars, was punched inside the car before being hit repeatedly until he fell to the ground when he tried to escape.

Mr Khan, 31, of Russell Road, Forest Fields, said he was just obeying the rules by declining to drive the group to the city from Sherwood in the early hours of Sunday.

It is illegal for private hire drivers to take on passengers who have not pre-ordered the car with the company – and breaking the law could result in a fine as well as six points on the driver’s licence.

“I feel like I was being punished for trying to do the right thing,” said Mr Khan, who suffered severe cuts, bruises and a swollen eye.

“I can’t believe this has happened to me. It was an absolutely vicious, cruel and brutal attack.

“I have been signed off work by my doctor for two weeks, but I don’t get sick pay. My wife is pregnant and due on May 12, so we have no income at the moment. We are struggling to pay the bills.”

However, his loss isn’t only financial. “I am traumatised and going back to work will be very difficult. I have lost all faith in humanity.

“When I came home on Sunday morning, my two-year-old daughter was too scared to come to me.”

Mr Khan said he was taken aback when two women and one man, who he said were in their 30s, suddenly jumped into his car after he had dropped someone off in Mansfield Road, Nottingham, at around 2am on Sunday.

After trying to explain that taking them into town would be breaking the law, they argued with him for a couple of minutes, Mr Khan said, before they started to hit him.

“At one point, one of them was holding me down while the others were beating me,” he said.

“I wanted to get away and ran out of the car but they followed me and hit me repeatedly until I fell to the ground. My nose was bleeding and I was feeling dizzy.”

He said they also racially abused him.

The group ran off, leaving Mr Khan lying on the pavement, he said.

Passers-by quickly came to his help and called the police and ambulance. Mr Khan was taken to the Queen’s Medical Centre where he had stitches in his nose. He was discharged at around 9am.

His wife, Lubna Pervaiz, said: “I was horrified. I didn’t think anything like this could happen.”

Shakeel Asghar, director of the Private Hire Association, said there had been a steep increase in attacks of this sort. “We had 170 reports of attacks like these last year from drivers across the country and have already had 230 this year,” said Mr Asghar.

Ajmil Ali, one of the owners of DG Cars, said: “Mr Khan is a good employee who was just trying to do his job properly. Sadly, these attacks have increased, especially at weekends.”

A police spokesman said investigations were ongoing. No arrests have yet been made.

POLICE are hunting two men who attacked a mini-cab driver after he asked them to stop eating in his car.

The two men got into his cab in Bedford Park Villas, near North Hill at around 2pm on April having bought food in the nearby Spar store.

When the 44-year-old driver told the pair they could not eat in the back of silver VW Passat they became aggressive.

The victim later told police both men got out of the cab, wrenched open his door and began to hit him Fortunately the victim suffered just minor injuries.

Police are keen to trace anyone who may have seen the assault, particularly a female witness. Investigators believe the woman, who was white and drove a silver Mercedes, was forced to stop in the road as the assault took place.

The descriptions of the men was both appeared to be of mixed-race. The victim said one wore a dark hooded jacket and had big bushy hair, while the other wore dark clothing.

Anyone with information about the incident should call police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 quoting crime reference number EC/12/4103.

A TAXI driver dragged from his cab and viciously beaten says he never wants to take another fare. Imran Ali, 29, had his leg broken in three places in the attack near Wheatley, Halifax on Friday night.

The attackers who laid into the father-of-two did not even take any money.

Speaking to the Courier from his hospital bed, Mr Ali, from Halifax, said: “I’ve been a taxi driver for seven years but this is the first time anything like this has happened.

“I don’t want to be a taxi driver again after this.” Doctors have told Mr Ali he will have to undergo an operation later this week, will not be able to stand for a month and will not be able to drive for six months.

The violent ambush happened after two men walked out in front of Mr Ali’s car, forcing him to stop, near the junction of Wood Lane and Long Lane near Larch Close.

Mr Ali, who works for Crossley’s based at Dean Clough in Halifax, said he was completing a fare at the time, and explained to the men that if they wanted a taxi then he could not help.

He said they swore at him before dragging him out of the car and beating him.

When the men ran off, Mr Ali rang 999.

Detectives say the assault was completely unprovoked and it may be that Mr Ali was just unlucky to have been driving up the road at that time.

They are urging anyone who saw the men in the area before the attack to get in touch.

They also want to hear from any other taxi drivers who may have picked up a fare in that area as they believe the men could have escaped in another taxi.

The culprits have been described as two men in their late teens or early 20s.

Anyone with information about the attack between 11.15pm and 11.30pm on Friday should call Calderdale CID via 101.

MARSHALLS will be patrolling Falmouth’s main taxi rank for the first time this weekend to try and bring an end to the late-night violence that has plagued The Moor in recent months.

The scheme will see security guards wearing hi-visibility vests stationed at the rank between 11.30pm and 3.30am on both Friday and Saturday nights.

Their role will be to monitor behaviour in the area, chat with people waiting for taxis, address any unwanted behaviour and report more serious matters directly to the police through the town radio system.

The service has been introduced after an increase in incidents of violent anti-social behaviour in the area.

Inspector Mark Richards of Falmouth police said: “Most people recognise that Falmouth is busier now much later into the night than it used to be.

“Sometimes those out visiting the town put themselves in a position where they can become victims through the amount of alcohol they have consumed.

“This service isn’t a knee jerk reaction to an increase in incidents but a measured response to a change in behaviour nationally.

“It is one of the many ways we can work as a community to keep Falmouth a top destination for an evening or night out.

“Almost all of the pubs, clubs and restaurants in the town have recognised this and have put up money to ensure their customers stay safe using the area around the taxi rank and The Moor.”

John Richards, managing director of Infinitus Security, who will be providing the guards, added: “I have personally selected the trained staff to take on this unique role.

“I have made it clear to my team that this is a customer service role, there to improve the feel of a night out in town.

“We do not have the powers of the police and will only ever intervene to protect a person or property from serious harm.

“We hope to provide a welcome focal point for people as they wend their way safely home.”

The scheme will run continuously throughout the year with a review at 3 months by the partnership to ensure that its objectives are being met and to tailor the service if needed.

The scheme has been backed by taxi drivers, University College Falmouth and the University of Exeter, local pubs, clubs and businesses and Falmouth Town Council.

Tom Arrington, chair of the Falmouth Taxi Association added, “Support from local businesses has been outstanding and highlights the common aim to continue to make Falmouth a good night out for a huge diversity of people.

“The scheme has been put in place to actively encourage people to use the taxi rank, and the Moor area, and to feel safe while doing so.”

A FATHER punched a taxi driver in a row over a £7 fare and then butted his partner.

Shane Liddell was already drunk when he got in a taxi in Hanley for a £7 or £8 fare to St Nicholas Avenue, in Norton.

But after arriving in Norton the 26-year-old punched the driver rather than pay the fare.

Amy Jacobs, prosecuting, told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court: “He punched him, making contact with the top of his lip.

“He punched him a second time making contact with his face.

“The driver tried to punch back to get him to stop attacking him.

“He noticed the taxi had begun to roll backwards. He managed to stop the movement. The defendant was still punching him.

“But the driver managed to open the door behind Liddell and pushed him so he fell out.”

The driver drove off to the top of the road and after three or four minutes he went back and saw the defendant go into a flat.

Miss Jacobs said Liddell was stood by the window shouting: “I am going to kill you.”

The driver, who suffered grazing and tenderness to the right side of his face, jaw and lip and a pain to his neck, called police.

The court heard Liddell’s partner asked him what had gone on and he told her to shut up.

Miss Jacobs added: “He punched the living room door with both hands.

“A child came into the living room upset. His partner told him to calm down.

“He moved into the kitchen, punching and kicking the kitchen door.

“She decided to call the taxi firm to complain about what she had seen. The defendant snatched the phone. He was abusive and threw the phone in the kitchen.

“The defendant asked her for money, she refused and he verbally abused her and pulled her hair. He butted her to the right side of her head. She threw money at him to try to get him to leave her alone.”

The court heard Liddell noticed the phone had a cracked screen and threw it at a mirror, smashing it.

His partner, who was left with soreness to her head, left her home with her two children.

Liddell, of Chetwynd Street, Smallthorne, pleaded guilty to two charges of assault and criminal damage on November 5. He was in breach of a suspended sentence order for an assault.

“His level of intoxication led him to misunderstand the situation,” she said.

“He is genuinely ashamed. This is an isolated incident.”

Recorder Thompson sentenced Liddell to six months in prison, suspended for two years, with 12 months’ supervision, structured intervention to address domestic abuse issues for 60 days, eight sessions at Adsis (Alcohol and drug services in Staffordshire) and 240 hours’ unpaid work. He must also pay £200 compensation and £300 costs.

“You should be ashamed of yourself,” said Recorder Thompson. “Men who hit women are always regarded as the lowest of the low, it is the ultimate act of cowardice. You behaved like a drunken yob.”

Thames Valley Police is appealing for information after a taxi driver was assaulted in Milton Keynes on Monday, 19th March.

The 38-year-old taxi driver picked up a fare at the Wavendon Gate Cricket Club and drove him to Lindores Croft, in Monkston, arriving there at about 3.20pm.

Enroute the passenger told the driver that he did not have the cash to pay for the journey, and that he would need to get the money when he arrived at his destination.

On arrival at Lindores Croft, the passenger got into an argument with the driver. At this time the driver became aware of two men outside his vehicle.

One of these men has reached through the driver’s open window, and snatched the keys from the ignition.

The driver got out of the car and proceeded to call his firm, when he was assaulted by the three men, who knocked him to the floor and repeatedly kicked him before walking off in the direction of the Kingston estate.

The passenger is described as black, aged between 18 and 20 years old, 5ft 3ins with an average build. He was wearing a green baseball cap, a grey jumper and was holding some sort of bag.

The other two men were also black, around the same age, both were 6ft or taller and wore baseball caps.

PC James Punter said: “The driver wasn’t seriously injured in the assault, but did sustain bruising to his body and head.

“I would urge anyone with information about this incident to come forward and speak to us as soon as possible. Were you in the Lindores Croft area on Monday afternoon? Did you see these men?”

If you don’t want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.